The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Splendour marks ‘Pushpa Yaga Mahotsavam’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Splendour marks ‘Pushpa Yaga Mahotsavam’

Staff Reporter

HOLY RITUAL: Flowers of vivid hues offered to Lord Venkateswara and His consorts during the ’Pushpa Yaga Mahotsavam’ in Tirumala on Friday.

TIRUMALA: The annual ‘Pushpa Yaga Mahotsavam’ performed in the ‘Sampangi Praakaram’ of the Lord Venkateswara temple on Friday was marked by offering of flowers of varied hues to the deity and His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi.

Bright and aromatic flowers such as Maruvam, Dhavaram, Bilwam, Kadiri Pachki, Chamanthi, Sampenga, Rose, Lily, Tulasi, Ganneru, Molla etc., used for the ritual were taken out in a colourful procession earlier by the TTD’s Garden Department. The total quantity of flowers used in the ritual was estimated to be around six tonnes.

According to scriptures including the famed ‘Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam’, emperors used to conduct the ritual with flowers in praise of the Lord to save their kingdom from earthquakes, cyclones, epidemics and other calamities. The conduct of the festival was discontinued for reasons not known and was again resumed in 1980 by the TTD. Even saint-poet Tallapaka Annamayya sang on this ritual in the 15th Century.

Sevas cancelled

In view of this event, sevas such as Thomala, Archana, Nijapada Seva, Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Brahmotsavam and Vasanthotsavam stood cancelled for the day. Later, Executive Officer K.V.Ramanachary released a Compact Disc ‘Paramatmikopanishad’, relating to Sri Vaikhanasa Agama, which praises Lord Vishnu and his ten incarnations in 105 slokas. Garden Superintendent G. Gopinath was also felicitated on the occasion.

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